KEEP SUMMIT CITY OPEN

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column for the Hazard Herald about how local governments in the mountains should be working on efforts to entice youth of this region to stay in the mountains and make their lives here.

It seems the points I made in that column about how important this endeavor actually is were ignored because this week the news has broken that Summit City in Whitesburg will be closing its doors on August 1 due to “regulatory concerns.”

To the best of my knowledge, these “regulatory concerns” pertain to alcohol sales in a “moist” city, where 70 percent of total profits made at an establishment selling alcohol must be gleaned from food sales. It’s a well-known fact that the majority of Summit City’s profits are made from alcohol sales, leaving them on the outside of this regulation.

It’s also a well-known fact that Summit City is one of the very few places where young people in about a three-county loop can go to hang out with their friends, enjoy live and oftentimes local music, view local art made by local artists and be among others their own age.

Anyone who actually takes the time to have adult conversations with someone younger than 50 living in the region knows the overarching hindrance to their quality of life in the mountains is not a lack of access to education, recreation, broadband Internet, etc., but the overwhelming lack of places where they can gather with others their own age to just talk, grab a bite to eat, watch a live show or even drink a beer or two.

If one were to take a poll of young people in the area asking them what they would like to see most in this region, I’m willing to bet my life that every single one of them would say there needs to be more things for young people to do here.

When Summit City opened, I was in college, and very envious of those still living in Hazard and Perry County because they had this very cool and eclectic place to hang out that I did not have growing up.

I was also very glad they had such a place because it would provide a space for people of all ages to gather and fellowship with one another, especially those under 50 who are so often left wanting for more when it comes to public places where they feel welcome to hang out.

It provided me with a sense of pride about my region. I could tell others who aren’t from here to go and eat a hot Panini sandwich or enjoy a cup of coffee or a live show at Summit City when they asked what there was to do for fun in the mountains.

And I did tell people that, and they did go to Summit City. And this place that was started by a couple of people who genuinely care about rebuilding a local atmosphere in the region quickly became a culture hub of the mountains. People from Perry County, Knott County, and probably even Leslie County were going to Summit City to enjoy what it provided for the entire region, not just for Whitesburg and Letcher County.

It became a destination for local musicians and artists to perform and display their work. It was the place to be on Karaoke nights and Art Walk mornings. Plays were hosted there, open mic nights were celebrated there and people became friends there.

Summit City is a living, breathing local icon and to allow it to close because of some technicality is criminal and will be detrimental to the quality of life of young people in the region.

I understand laws, ordinances and regulations are on the books for very important reasons. And I understand as council people of the City of Whitesburg, you must adhere to those laws, ordinances and regulations to the letter as part of your duty as public servants.

However, when those laws, ordinances and regulations will force a local institution that is vital to the retention of local youth and the attraction of outside youth, and be detrimental to the quality of life of those living in and around Whitesburg, perhaps those regulations should be reconsidered.

Saving Summit City and keeping its doors open to welcome local artists, musicians and residents into it’s acoustically blessed hearth will only help the City of Whitesburg grow, which will in turn grow the mountain community, which will in turn grow the young population of these hills, which is what this region will need in order to progress positively into the future.

That is something of which I’m sure we can all agree is vitally important.

We urge you, city councilmember’s: reconsider the regulations that would force Summit City to close.

Think about the benefits the community will reap from this important institution.

Think about the culture this establishment helps to keep alive with every gallery-type opening of a new artist’s work and with every live musical performance.

Think about what Whitesburg could be if Summit City – this living entity of the larger community – were allowed to remain open, influencing others to follow in its path, revitalizing downtown Whitesburg to a point where people will make this city a destination vacation spot, or even a destination living spot.

Think about the real future for this place, nestled in the hills, with potential up to its mountaintops, just waiting for visionary politicians to remove the cap on possibilities so it could grow into that potential to its fullest capabilities.

I don’t think I’m wrong in assuming that this is what all of you want to see for this place. You have the power to make this happen. Please don’t let this opportunity pass you by because of bureaucracy. Take the reigns and create real change.

After all, isn’t that what democratic politics is supposed to be all about?